Blalock-Taussig shunt
Pronunciation: BLAY-lock TOW-sig
A surgical procedure creating a connection between a systemic and pulmonary artery to increase blood flow to the lungs in cyanotic heart defects.
Full Definition
The Blalock-Taussig shunt is a palliative surgical procedure used to increase pulmonary blood flow in patients with cyanotic congenital heart defects and decreased pulmonary circulation. Originally described in 1944, the classic procedure connected the subclavian artery directly to the pulmonary artery. The modern modification uses a Gore-Tex tube graft to connect the subclavian artery to the pulmonary artery, providing more predictable and durable results. This procedure is often the first stage in the surgical management of complex single ventricle physiology or as a bridge to more definitive repair. The shunt improves oxygen saturation but requires careful monitoring for complications including shunt stenosis and pulmonary hypertension.
Usage
Usage note: Named after Alfred Blalock and Helen Taussig; hyphenate the compound name and capitalize both surnames.
In Context
- "A modified Blalock-Taussig shunt was placed as the first-stage palliation for this patient with pulmonary atresia." — Operative report
- "The patient developed progressive cyanosis due to outgrowing of the Blalock-Taussig shunt." — Follow-up clinic note